It was originally described as Orchestia quoyana in 1840 by French zoologist Henri Milne-Edwards and transferred to the genus Bellorchestia in 2008.

[4] The species was transferred to Talorchestia in 1906 by Thomas Stebbing,[2] and later to the newly-described genus Bellorchestia in 2008 by carcinologists Cristiana S. Serejo and James K.

[5] Bellorchestia quoyana reaches lengths of 29 millimetres, with males being slightly larger than females.

[2][4] Jumping action is achieved by balancing on third to last pair of legs while turning the abdomen under the body so the end of the uropods and telson press on to the ground.

On landing the abdominal limbs and last two pairs of legs are used as shock absorbers to cushion the impact.